Continuous Mining Machine Operator Salary in California (2026)

Official state-level BLS pay data for Continuous Mining Machine Operators in California, plus how it compares with the rest of the country.

Official BLS state wage data · Unknown vintage
California Median
$62,790
per year
Hourly Rate
$30.19
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+2% vs US median
US median $61,810
State Rank
#9 of 27
940 employed here

How much does a Continuous Mining Machine Operator make in California?

Continuous Mining Machine Operators in California take home a median of $62,790 annually — roughly $30.19 an hour — which runs 2% above the national median of $61,810.

Within California, entry-level pay starts around $56,340 while the top 10% make $82,250 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $62,240 and $78,830 a year.

Continuous Mining Machine Operator salary range in California

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$56,340$27.09
25th percentile (early career)$62,240$29.92
50th percentile (median)$62,790$30.19
75th percentile (experienced)$78,830$37.90
90th percentile (top earners)$82,250$39.54

How California compares

California ranks 9th out of 27 states and territories for Continuous Mining Machine Operator pay. The top 5 best-paying states:

RankStateMedian salary
1Minnesota$90,820
2Nevada$85,590
3Wyoming$85,260
4Colorado$81,110
5West Virginia$77,570

Working as a Continuous Mining Machine Operator in California

Nationally, about 14,000 people work as Continuous Mining Machine Operators in the United States. A high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job.

Considering a move? Compare California pay ($62,790) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Continuous Mining Machine Operator make in California?
The median Continuous Mining Machine Operator salary in California is $62,790 per year, or about $30.19 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $56,340 at the entry level to $82,250 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Continuous Mining Machine Operators about 2% more than the national median of $61,810. California ranks 9th out of 27 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Continuous Mining Machine Operators?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $62,790 a year. About 940 Continuous Mining Machine Operators are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.

← See the national Continuous Mining Machine Operator salary report

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.